BumperScan
Powered byNHTSA|EPA|Community Reports|Updated
Your report: 3 of 4 steps complete75%
Car identifiedData collectedBasic analysisFull AI analysis

Free Preview

#BS-2011-MAZMAZ-373A

2011 Mazda Mazda3Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 181 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
181
Crashes
18
Fires
2
Recalls
2
TSBs
284
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 181 complaints, 18 crashes, 2 fires, and 2 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

clutch failure

10 complaints • Severity 9.2/10

$X,XXX
2

dash warping

3 complaints • Severity 8.7/10

$X,XXX
3

paint cracking

3 complaints • Severity 6.7/10

$X,XXX
4

headlight condensation

3 complaints • Severity 7.3/10

$X,XXX
5

ac stopped working

2 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $2.00

Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the AirbagsHIGH

28 owners reported airbags issues — failures commonly reported around 45K miles.

!Inspect the SeatsMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

46
0–30K
27
30–60K
27
60–90K
13
90–120K
5
120–150K
8
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (46 reports) • Median: 45K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Airbags (28 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Airbags28 (15%)
Seats20 (11%)
Other18 (10%)
Electrical15 (8%)
Steering13 (7%)
Structure:body12 (7%)
Drivetrain11 (6%)
Lights10 (6%)

2011 Mazda Mazda3: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2011 Mazda Mazda3, with 28 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 45,304 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 45K-mile mark.

Seats Issues

Seats complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2011 Mazda Mazda3, with 20 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to seats-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2011 Mazda Mazda3, with 15 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2011 Mazda Mazda3, with 13 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to steering-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

9
11
10
12
15
13
15
14
7
15
23
16
26
17
12
18
12
19
15
20
16
21
12
22
1
23
3
24
2
25
3
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2011 Mazda Mazda3. Recent trend: increasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

Get Report — From $2.00

Recall History (2 recalls)

16V644000Mar 2017

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.

17V082000Apr 2017

SEATS

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011 Mazda2 and 2010-2011 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles equipped with a manual seat lifter. In the affected vehicles, the seat height adjustment lifter links may break or detach from the seat frame and the seat angle may incline causing the driver to not be able to maintain an appropriate driving position.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

2011 Mazda Mazda3 NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

2 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

1 investigation still open: NHTSA is examining whether a defect warrants a recall.

EA21002OpenOpened Sep 2021

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

The worst model year for the Mazda Mazda3 is the 2010 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is accessories - interior.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 181 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 2 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Mazda Mazda3 Model Years

2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004
View all Mazda Mazda3 years →

2011 Mazda Mazda3: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2011 Mazda Mazda3?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2011 Mazda Mazda3 is related to the airbags, with 28 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2011 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?
The 2011 Mazda Mazda3 has 181 complaints, 18 crash reports, and 2 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How safe is the 2011 Mazda Mazda3?
NHTSA rates the 2011 Mazda Mazda3 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in frontal crash tests, 2 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2011 Mazda Mazda3 problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2011 Mazda Mazda3 have any recalls?
Yes, the 2011 Mazda Mazda3 has 2 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Mazda Mazda3 problems start?
Based on 126 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 45,304 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2011 Mazda Mazda3 data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
RaccoonEagleRoverCat

Get the Full 2011 Mazda Mazda3 Report

10 sections of AI analysis based on 181 owner reports. Know before you buy.

Get Full Report — From $2.00Money-back guarantee
Instant delivery|One-time purchase|No hidden fees